Eerie new images have revealed the haunting remains of Nicosia International Airport, a once-bustling transport hub that has stood frozen in time since its abrupt abandonment nearly fifty years ago.
A Terminal Frozen in Time
Located in the Lakatamia suburb west of Nicosia, Cyprus, the airport now presents a ghostly spectacle of decaying infrastructure and forgotten aircraft. The large airport sign remains partially legible despite missing letters, while the only signs of life come from pigeons roosting in the rotting ceiling and wind howling through shattered windows.
Inside the terminal, a reception hall serves as a perfect time capsule of 1970s trends. Peeling advertisement boards still promote shoes and holidays promising to take travellers to 'the ends of the earth'. Upstairs, the departure lounge sits completely empty, with rows of seats coated in decades of dust and pigeon droppings, creating a scene reminiscent of an early science fiction film set.
From RAF Base to Abandoned Relic
The airport's history stretches back to the 1920s when it was originally established as an RAF base. During World War II, it played a crucial strategic role, serving as a key stopover for both military and civilian flights. By the 1950s and 1960s, Nicosia International Airport had transformed into a major tourist gateway, even attracting Hollywood celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor.
This golden era ended abruptly in 1974 when conflict between Greek and Turkish forces led to the airport's destruction and subsequent abandonment. The airport was officially closed to commercial flights following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, beginning its slow process of deterioration that continues to this day.
In 1977, the last commercial airline flights departed Nicosia Airport under UN Special Authorisation, when British Airways engineers retrieved three stranded Cyprus Airways aircraft and flew them to London.
A Symbol of Division
The airport's abandonment reflects the broader political division of Cyprus. Last July marked 50 years since Turkey invaded Cyprus in response to a brief coup orchestrated by the military then ruling Greece. Today, Greek Cypriots live in Cyprus' south and Turkish Cypriots in its north, separated by a UN-controlled ceasefire line that cleaves the island from east to west. Despite numerous attempts, reunification talks have consistently failed to yield results.
Out on the decaying runways, the shell of a solitary passenger jet sits on the tarmac, its fuselage riddled with bullet holes that testify to the violence that closed the airport. The former baggage claim hall stands decaying, with the skeleton of a luggage belt left untouched for decades.
A United Nations spokesperson confirmed last year that the site 'is actually frozen in time', noting that although there were several attempts to reach an agreement to reopen and restore the airport, the sides were unable to find common ground, leading to the gradual deterioration of the facility.
Today, the airport lies within a United Nations Protected Area and remains largely off-limits to the public. However, it has become a coveted location for urban explorers fascinated by its decayed grandeur and profound historical significance. Despite its eerie silence, Nicosia International Airport remains a powerful symbol of the island's turbulent past, its derelict runways whispering stories of the thousands of travellers who once passed through its gates.
